HK gripped by election enthusiasm

Bus parade, front-page advertisements urge voters to exercise their civic duty

Hong Kong people's enthusiasm and expectations are running high for Sunday's Legislative Council election.

On Thursday, a bus parade organized by 26 associations kicked off around Hong Kong. One hundred vehicles, including buses, minibuses and taxis, toured the city along five routes with passengers and banners calling on voters to exercise their civic responsibility on polling day.

Front-page advertisements placed in local newspapers by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Thursday appealed to voters with the slogan "Casting Your Vote For Hong Kong－Our Home".

Hong Kong's 4.47 million eligible voters will return 90 lawmakers on Sunday: 20 from elections in 10 geographical constituencies, 30 from 28 functional constituencies covering different professional sectors, and 40 chosen by representatives of various sectors who are members of the 1,500-strong Election Committee.

Election campaigns are in full swing across Hong Kong, as 153 candidates vying for the seats try to reach out to supporters and canvass votes at street booths and via social media channels.

The significance of Sunday's Legislative Council election, the first to be held under the SAR's revamped electoral system, is not lost on the Hong Kong public. Various groups and professional associations, including media organizations, have held forums for candidates to present their platforms. Many public figures have spread the word and called on registered voters to cast their ballots on Sunday.

David Wong Yau-kar, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, said the election will be a big improvement from previous ones as the candidates are more serious about serving the public by bringing about more effective governance that will help address the issues closest to the hearts of the public in areas like housing, livelihood matters and healthcare.

Ronald Wu Keng-hou, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents and a member of the Election Committee, said he will vote on Sunday.

"The election has been the talk of the town," he said. "The candidates I met all made great efforts to gather support. I hope that with the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and stability restored in Hong Kong, there is much to expect from a new legislature."

Henry Tang Ying-yen, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, called on eligible voters to cast their votes on Sunday, fulfill their civic duty, and elect lawmakers who love the country and Hong Kong and are committed to serving the public.

Local religious groups, including the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Christian Council, the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, Sik Sik Yuen, the Hong Kong Taoist Association and the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, have released statements to their communities and to the public, calling on people to vote on Sunday.

The government is deploying more resources to ensure a smooth election. More than 38,000 civil servants have been mobilized, while over 10,000 police officers will be on the streets on Sunday to ensure a safe and orderly election.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung highlighted the potential risks the election faces, including homegrown terrorism and lone-wolf attacks. The police will be on high alert, he said.

On Thursday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged two people who allegedly reposted a social media post inciting others to cast blank votes on Sunday. They both face one count of engaging in illegal conduct to incite another person not to vote, or to cast an invalid vote.

The ICAC urged members of the public not to make illegal appeals or repost unlawful content in order to uphold a fair and clean election.